Each year Autism Live curates a list of top toys and gifts in a wide range of categories and developmental levels to help you find the perfect gift to delight the children, teens and adults in your life who are on the Autism Spectrum. This year we have chosen toys in various price ranges to help you make the perfect holiday selection. We hope there is something to delight everyone on your list! When choosing baby toys use caution to select age/skill appropriate toys that don’t have a choking hazard.
Top Toy Winner
Move n Groove Caterpillar
Mattel
Description
12+ Months
Sensory building set for toddlers ages 1-3 with 30 big building blocks and 8 sensory features to discover and develop tactile, visual and auditory skills. Toddlers can build the caterpillar train and its cute critters, then pull its string to get groovin’. Blocks are compatible with all MEGA BLOKS building toys for endless learning fun.
Autism Live Says:
This fun toy offers it all! Toddlers can build, create, move and groove! We love all the sensory components for little hands to discover.
Therapist Recommendation Toy Winner
Wooden Take-Along Sorting Barn
Melissa & Doug
Description
2+ Years
Fit 10 wooden farm-themed play pieces into holes in the wooden sorting barn with handle for portability and flip-up roof for quick access. Play pieces include horse, pig, goat, sheep, chicken, dog, cow, tractor, and farmer. Chunky pieces stand up for pretend play.
Autism Live Says:
We love this portable shape sorter for toddlers on the go. Easily work on animals, animal sounds, fine motor skills and sorting with this well-made toy from Melissa & Doug.
STEM Toy Winner
Stick-O
Magformers
Description
18+ Months
Toddlers can explore tactile learning and hands-on magnetic play. Each magnet rotates and creations always stick together, making a frustration-free play experience. Build with the new rattle ball and see what you can create!
Autism Live Says:
This is a great first building set. The easy to use magnets create success for small hands while building and exploring creativity. Colorful shapes snap together easily to create animals and other friends.
Speech Builder Toy Winner
Hape Mighty Echo Microphone
Hape
Description
12+ months
With the Mighty Echo microphone toy, your toddler can sing like a pop-star!
The Echo-effect ensures hours of fun for the little musicians. Kids can sing their favorite songs and add Echo to their voice without batteries. This Microphone toy features attractive primary colors with musical note graphics. Whether singing alone or playing with a band, this toy stimulates speech and singing ability in toddlers.
Autism Live Says:
This simple, but well-made toy, encourages babbling, singing, and words. Have fun taking turns making sounds with your toddler, then build toward words.
Social Skills Builder Toy Winner
VTech® Style & Glam On Unicorn™
VTech®
Description
18 + Months
It’s a magical day when you play with the Style & Glam On Unicorn™. Choose from six glamorous accessories to decorate the unicorn’s horn and tail. Hear the unicorn describe each accessory and explore colors, counting, feelings and more!
Autism Live Says:
Oh, the pretend play fun that can be had with this delightful toy! This is an ideal toy to share magical moments and build early social skills.
Sensory Toy Winner
Taggies Crinkle Me Toy, Elephant
Mary Meyer
Description
3+ Months
Part soother, part activity toy. Taggies-Crinkle Me Elephant has fun character applique on colorful pattern. Crinkle paper and a squeaker on the inside. Flexible loop for attaching to stroller and crib. 8 Taggies-ribbons. Crinkle paper and squeaker inside. Labeled machine wash, air dry.
Autism Live Says:
We love all the different types of sensory input from this cute little elephant. Little hands will enjoy the exploration of all the textures and sounds available on this clever toy. We love that it is machine washable!
Parents Recommendation Toy Winner
Official Musical Bedtime JJ Doll
CoComelon
Description
18+Month
Highly-detailed plush doll is inspired by JJ, a popular character from the educational YouTube series, CoComelon! First, switch the sound box to the ON position. Next squeeze JJ’s tummy, and listen to his 7 sounds and phrases! The adorable plush even plays a clip of the popular CoComelon Nursery Rhyme – “YesYes Bedtime!” This perfect bedtime friend will help your little one fall fast asleep!
Autism Live Says:
This soft and huggable toy makes bedtime safe and snuggly. Make the bedtime ritual easier for everyone by making it fun to go to bed.
Oldie but Goodie Toy Winner
Classic Record Player
Fisher-Price
Description
The original 1971 Fisher Price Change-A-Record Music Box, or otherwise known as the Fisher Price Record Player, is back. An endearing classic, this toy features 10 songs on 5 records.
“Playable” records store conveniently inside the record player. This classic makes a great gift for babies and toddlers ages 18 months and up for hands-on, screen-free play!!
Autism Live Says:
This classic toy is perfect for little hands to work on fine motor skills, and cause and effect problem solving, all without screen time.
Motor Play Toy Winner
Crawligator Tummy Time
Crawligator
Description
4+ months
With high quality caster wheels this toy rolls across a hard floor surfaces to develp gross motor skills while allowing the arms and legs to reach, push and kick. The ergonomic design enhances the comfort and positioning of the child encouraging them to enjoy more time on their tummy while stimulating sensory and cognitive development and hand-eye coordination.
Autism Live Says:
This is a great toy for fostering the muscles required to crawl. We love the way it supports the child so they can get the benefits of crawling while building the core strength to be able to crawl on their own.
Kids Choice Toy Winner
2 in 1 Servin' Up Fun Jumperoo
Fisher-Price
Description
6-36 Months
The 2-in-1 food truck Jumperoo entertainer and infant activity center with toys, music, sounds, lights, and Smart Stages learning content converts from a freestanding baby jumper, to a crawl-around infant play center with shape sorter activities. The interactive steering wheel lights up and plays 100+ songs, sounds, and phrases. 3 Smart Stages levels grow along with your baby and teach colors, shapes, the alphabet, counting, and opposites.
Autism Live Says:
This is a toy that has it all! It’s fun, educational and grows with your child. We love all the things your child can learn while having a blast.
Empowering Employment Skills Toy Winner
Mushroom Garden
Best Learning
Description
12 + Months
Spoil your toddler and pack them up with skills including numbers, colors, music, hand and eye co-ordination, creativity and imagination, logical thinking, motor functions, concentration, problem solving, dexterity and memory. Colorful mushrooms light-up to learn numbers, colors and play music.
As the colorful mushrooms light up, pay attention to the patterns and follow it. The patterns get longer as you progress!
Autism Live Says:
These colorful mushrooms have so much to teach inquisitive little minds. Matching, patterns, colors, and fine motor skills are just some of the things your toddler will learn while having a good time.
Educational Toy Winner
Ultimate Learning Bus
CoComelon
Description
2+ Years
Inspired by CoComelon, the hit preschool show on YouTube Kids and Netflix, this interactive, educational toy for toddlers helps spark creativity, while discovering core learning and developmental skills through play. It uses lights, sounds, music, and over 300 phrases and sounds to encourage children to learn letters, numbers, color recognition, and more.
Autism Live Says:
Learning is fun with this truly remarkable toy. We love the imaginary play and interaction that this toy affords. Work on fine and gross motor skills while learning all kinds of school ready skills.
Best Card/Board Game Winner
Monkey Around
Peaceble Kingdom
Description
2+ years
Monkey Around is a wonderful first board game for kids, created specifically for you and your two year old. Kids love getting to move about while playing a game! From hugs to high fives to simple skills like balancing, hopping, and marching, the cards in the game will prompt you and your toddler to get on the move! The included beanbag banana adds to the fun!
Monkey Around improves gross motor skill development, coordination, understanding spatial concepts, recognizing matching body parts, listening, and building vocabulary.
Autism Live Says:
We love this action-packed game that will keep you and your toddler laughing and moving. What a great first game!
Boredom Buster Toy Winner
DJ Bouncing Beats
Fisher-Price
Description
9+ Months
This interactive musical learning toy encourages babies and toddlers ages 9-36 months to dance, move, and bounce along. 3 Smart Stages learning levels teach the alphabet, colors, counting 1-10, and opposites. Press the music and learning buttons for 75+ songs, sounds and phrases, multi-color lights and fun bouncing action. Press the mic button to record and play back with fun remix effects.
Autism Live Says:
This little toy is power packed with fun things to do with your toddler. We especially love the record feature which will encourage sounds and language.
Best Video Game Winner
Twist and Learn Gamer
Fisher-Price
Description
9+ Months
This pretend portable gaming console features lights, music, and your baby’s Laugh & Learn pals for exciting early role play. Toddlers control the fun with 10+ buttons to press for multi-color lights, music and sounds. Helps develop fine motor skills and introduces cause & effect for infants and toddlers ages 9 months to 3 years old.
Autism Live Says:
We love how realistic this toy is without having screen time. Now your toddler can “play along” like the big kids, while secretly learning all kinds of fun things. We also love the 65+ songs that play on demand!
Best Puzzle Winner
Wooden Name Puzzle
Fat Brain Toys
Description
This colorful wooden name puzzle is made just for your child in the USA.
Names of 9 characters or less, including spaces, can be custom made.
Use it as a decoration for the baby room; it is of exceptional quality; made with nontoxic paints.
As a puzzle it encourages fine motor skills, letter recognition, spelling skills; and a delightful self-esteem boost.
Autism Live Says:
This is a great first puzzle for every child. First it hangs on the wall as a brilliant decoration, and then, as the child ages it becomes the perfect puzzle to learn the letters in their own name.
Best Book Winner
Sit to Stand Giant Activity Book
Fisher-Price
Description
6+ Months
This 2-in-1 electronic learning toy transforms from sit-at storybook to sturdy, upright activity center with 360 degrees of play. 3 Smart Stages learning levels teach the alphabet, early literacy skills, numbers and counting, shapes, and colors. Includes 3 pages of story and 8 busy activities, with 3 shapes to sort, spinner, slider, peek-a-boo door and more. 3 light-up buttons activate 120+ songs, sounds, tunes and phrases.
Autism Live Says:
This “book” is so much more than a book. It stands up and creates an interactive play station for hours or play and skill development.
Best Art/Craft Winner
Palm Grasp Crayons
Crayola®
Description
1+ year
My First Crayola provides children their first art supplies made especially for their little hands so they can create. Easy-grip egg shaped crayons are designed for little hands to express create and connect with color! These egg-shaped crayons come in 3 bright, bold colors in a fun easy-to-grip shape. Washable and Non-Toxic.
Autism Live Says:
We love these classic Crayola crayons in the ideal size to fit in the palm of a toddler. These crayons are perfect for creating early success with color and coloring, while strenghthening the muscles of the hand in preparation for handwriting skills.
Don’t forget to check out all the fabulous toy and gift winners in other categories.
You might find exactly what you are looking for there!
We at AUTISM Live
wish you the
Happiest of Holidays!
After all of your shopping is done, if you find that you have more to give, please join us in making a donation of any size to Autism Care Today (ACT). This wonderful organization gives grants to families for things like iPads, insurance co-pays, sensory equipment, GPS devices and more. Your donation could make another family’s holiday wishes come true.